Automatic carpet tufting and pile cutting machine



y 6, 1952 R. c. KLINE. 2,595,585

AUTOMATIC CARPET TUFTING AND FILE CUTTING MACHINE Filed March 10, 1950 5 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR. RICHARD C. KLIN E.

BY A

ATTORNEYS.

y 6, 1952 R. c. KLINE 2,595,585

AUTOMATIC CARPET TUFTING AND FILE CUTTING MACHINE Filed March 10, 1950 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. RICHARD C. KLI NE.

ATTORNEYS.

R. C. KLlNE May 6, 1952 AUTOMATIC CARPET TUFTING AND PILE CUTTING MACHINE Filed March 10, 1950 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR.

RICHARD C. KL! NE A TTORA/EKJI May 6, 1952 2,595,585

AUTOMATIC CARPET TUFTING AND FILE CUTTING MACHINE R. c. KLINE 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed March 10, 1950 INVENTOR- BY RICHARD C. KLINE Z JMJM ATTORNEKi R. C. KLINE May 6, 1952 AUTOMATIC CARPET TUFTING AND FILE CUTTING MACHINE 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed March 10, 1950 v INVE/VTUR. RICHARDC.KL-INEZ.

wavy/M ATTORNEY/5.

Patented May 6, 1952 OFFICE AUTOMATIC CARPET TUFTING AND PILE CUTTING MACHINE Richard C. Kline, Mount Kisco, N. Y.

Application March 10, 1950, Serial No. 148,946

3 Claims. 1

This invention pertains to carpet manufacture. and more especially to the manufacture of tufted carpet having a cut pile.

The invention comprises a relatively small, compact and economical, power driven, tufting and pile cutting mechanism for producing successive tufts of filamentary material in a base fabric, and for cutting said tufts as they are formed, to provide a resulting tufted fabric having a cut pile.

The invention also comprises a mechanism for automatically feeding the tufting and pile cutting device, for producing in the base fabric successive and contiguous rows of the tufted and pile cut filamentary material, whereby a tufted and pile cut fabric of any desired length or width may be produced.

The invention is a modification of that described in my copending application, Serial No. 128,314, filed November 14, 1949, of which this application is a continuation-in-part.

In my parent application aforesaid, I have described a portable, power actuated tufting mechanism, for producing'tufted carpets and the like. This mechanism comprises in its essentials an elongated frame member having oppositely disposed upstanding sid walls, provided with longitudinally extending, upper and lower, oppositely disposed pairs of parallel grooves or slots, in which are respectively mounted, needle and stepper thrust bars, which are thus slidably displaceable longitudinally relative to each other along substantially parallel paths. The needle thrust bar mounts at one end thereof, and projecting therefrom, one or more needles, the latter in laterally disposed relation; while the stepp r thrust bar, similarly mounts a corresponding number of projecting stepper prongs, of substantially V- shaped or notched configuration at the ends thereof. At the opposite end of the frame from the needle and stepper mountings, there is journaled perpendicular to the direction of thrust bar displacement, a drive shaft having keyed thereto a cam which is linked to the needle thrust bar by an eccentric arm which is pin-connected at one end thereof, eccentrically to the cam and at its opposite end to the needle thrust bar, whereby as the drive shaft is rotated, the needle thrust bar is longitudinally reciprocated and with it the needle or needles mounted thereon. The cam it- 5 self is of a configuration providing an'arcuately shaped cam face portion, subtending a relatively flat or substantially rectilinear cam face portion. Journaled to the stepper thrust bar is a cam roll tions aforeasid, whereby as the drive shaft is roconnected to the cam is so disposed in relation to the substantially fiat or rectilinear cam face portion of the cam, that the steppers are reciprocated in lagging timed relation to the needles,

and in substantially phase quadrature thereto,

"such that the needles are first pierced through a foundation fabric to be tufted carrying the tufting yarns with them, whereupon the steppers are advanced through the fabric into substantial alignment with the needles and through the needle holes formed thereby. Thereupon the needles are withdrawn preparatory to the next tufting stitch, while the steppers remain momentarily stationary to hold the yarn and form the tuft of the previous stitch, the steppers being thereupon withdrawn while the needles are advancing on the next stitch.

Now the invention of my present application incorporates in the tufting mechanism of my parent application aforesaid, modifications and additional mechanisms, for cutting or severing the loop of each tuft, as it is formed, whereby the resulting carpet, instead of being only tufted, is also pile cut, thus to produce a tufted and pile cut carpet.

The combined tufting and pile cutting mechanism of my present invention comprses, in its essentials, an elongated frame member having oppositely disposed upstanding side walls provided, in which are slidably mounted, in superimposed relation, a needle thrust bar and a pair of stepper thrust bars, all of which are slidably displaceable longitudinally relative to each other along substantially parallel paths. The needle thrust bar mounts at one end thereof and projecting therefrom, one or more needles in laterally aligned relation; while the stepper thrust bars similarly mount a corresponding number of combined stepper and pile cutting devices, the latter consisting of a pair or pairs of superimposed resilient blades having oppositely bevelled shearing ends, the upper blade of each pair being mounted on the upper thrust bar adjacent the needle thrust bar; while the lower blade of each pair is mounted on o the lower thrust bar, which is furthest from the needle thrust bar. The upper and lower blades of each pair are mounted in slidable engagement with each other and with their bevelled shearing ends superimposed in oppositely biased relation.

which engages and rides upon the cam face por- 58 At the opposite end of the frame from the needle and combined stepper and pile cutting blades, there is mounted a motor which drives a shaft journaled to the frame. Keyed to this shaft is an eccentric which is linked to the needle thrust bar by an eccentric arm, pin-connected at one end to the eccentric, and at its opposite end to the-needle thrust bar, whereby as the drive shaft is rotated the needle thrust bar is longitudinally reciprocated and with it the needle or needles mounted thereon. Also mounted on the drive shaft are a pair of cams positioned to actuate the stepper thrust bars respectively. Each of these cams includes a cam face portion of convex curvature subtending a relatively flat cam face portion, the convexly curved cam face portion including a portion of constant radius, the same for each cam, and one of the cams including a convex portion of increased radius relative to th other. The relatively fiat cam face portion is of the same configuration and dimension for each cam. The stepper bars have cam rolls mounted thereon, which are caused to resiliently engage their respective cams, whereby the stepper bars are displaced in conformity with the configurations of the cam faces as the latter rotate. I

The configurations of the cam faces are such, as above described, as concurrently to reciprocate the thrust bars in intermittent lagging timed relation to the needle thrust bar for forming in the foundation fabric, during each complete revolution of the drive shaft, a tuft of the yarn or other filamentary material fed through the needles, and for thereafter severing said tuft into upstanding strands of the filamentary material, this latter being effected by longitudinal displacement of one thrust bar relative to the other, whereby the oppositely biased superimposed shearing blades sever the tuft by shearing action. That is to say, as the motor driven shaft rotates carrying with it the eccentric and the cams mounted thereon, the needle or needles are first advanced into the foundation fabric by the reciprocative movement of the needle thrust bar.

Thereupon the superimposed and oppositely bevelled shearing blades are concurrently advanced in unison through the fabric apertures, formed by the needles, to catch the filamentary material in the V-notch formed between the concurrently advancing shearing blades, thus to form the tufting loop, this action occurring during the interval that the stepper cam rolls engage the relatively fiat cam face portions of the cams. Thereafter as the needle is withdrawn, the superimposed shearing blades are maintained momentarily stationary during the interval that the stepper cam rolls ride upon the arcuately shaped cam face portions of constant radius. Thereafter as the cam rolls engage the convexly curved cam face portions the radius of one of which is greater than the other, one of the superimposed shearing blades will be longitudinally displaced relative to the other, thus to cut or shear the tufting loop into two strands, following which the shearing blades are concurrently withdrawn preparatory to entering the fabric again on the next tufting and pile cutting stitch.

In accordance with a further aspect of the invention, an automatic feed mechanism is provided, for feeding the tufting and pile cutting device along the foundation fabric, and in such manner as to form therein successiv and contiguous rows of the tufted and pile cut filamentary material. To this end there is provided an elongated frame which is vertically mounted in a supporting foundation. This frame also mounts a tentering frame across which the foundation fabric is stretched preparatory to forming the cut pile therein. The first mentioned frame also mounts a carriage which is displaceable horizontally therealong by means of guide rails and roller brackets suspending the carriage thereon. For power driving the carriage along this frame, racks are secured thereto which mesh with pinions mounted on a motor driven shaft of the carriage. The carriage in turn mounts a metal cage which is vertically displaceable along the carriage by means of threaded uprights engaging internaliy threaded gears on which the cage is mounted. The cage in turn mounts the tufting and pile cutting device in such manner that the latter is displaceable toward and away from the stationary frame for advancing the same into and out of operative engagement with the foundation fabric tentered thereon.

The motor which drives the tufting and pile cutting mechanism, also drives through a flexible coupling and thence through a variable speed friction clutch, a shaft of the cage which is linked through a worm gear to a splined vertical shaft, which mounts on the opposite ends thereof the aforesaid pinions, meshing with racks secured to the stationary frame. In this way as the tufting and pile cutting of the base fabric proceeds, the tufting and pile cutting device is displaced horizontally along the foundation fabric, and at a preselected rate, depending on the setting of the variable speed friction clutch thus to produce therein a row of the pile cut filamentary material. When the tufting and pile cutting de vice has thus traversed the entire length of the foundation fabric, it is manually or automatically elevated and the direction of traverse of the carriage reversed to form in the foundation fabric a contiguous row of the pile cut filamentary material. This elevation of the tufting and pile cutting device is eifected by rotation of the threaded uprights which mount the cage as aforesaid. In this way by successive traverses and elevations of the tufting and pile cutting mechanism, the entire area, or any desired portion of the entire area of the foundation fabric has formed therein the tufted and pile cut filamentary material.

Having thus described the invention in general terms, reference will now be had to the accompanying drawings for a more detailed description thereof.

Referring to the drawings:

Figure 1 is a front elevation of a carpet manufacturing mechanism in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the invention; While Figure 2 is a top .plan view of the carpet tufting and pile cutting portion of the Figure 1 mechanism, as taken at 22 thereof. Figure 3 is a detail of the travel frame of the Figure 1 mechanism, as taken at 33 thereof. Figure 4 is a vertical sectional elevation of the Figure 1 mechanism, as taken at 44 thereof.

Figure 5 is a vertical sectional detail of the mechanism, as taken at 5-5 of Figure 2.

Figure 6 is a horizontal sectional plan view, as taken at 6-6 of Figure 4.

Figure '7 is a vertical sectional view, as taken at 1-1 of Figure 6.

Figure 8 is a sectional plan view of the carpet tufting and pile cutting assembly of the mechanism, as taken at 88 of Figure '7; while Figure 9 is a sectional elevation thereof, as taken at 99 of Figure 8. Figure 9a is a fragmentary detail of Figure 9. Figure is a cross sectional view, as taken at III-I0 of Figure 8.

Figures 11 to inclusive, are detail views of the moving components of the tufting and pile cutting mechanism, which illustrate a complete cycle of the sequence steps of'the carpet tufting and pile cutting operation. Of these views, Figures 11, 14, 17 and 19 are enlarged sectional plan views of the needle, stepper and pile cutter components shown in their relative positions at the successive steps of the carpet tufting and pile cutting sequence. Figures 13 and 16 are elevational views of the coacting stepper and cutter blades. Figures 12', 15, 18 and 20 are diagrammatic elevational views of the eccentric and cam assemblies illustrating their relative positions of rotation at the successive steps of the tufting and pile cutting operation corresponding to the Fig-' ures 11, 14, 1'7 and 19 positions.

Referring to Figures 1 to 'l inclusive, the mechanism of the invention comprises in its basic essentials the carpet tufting and pile cutting mechanism shown generally at III, which is mounted upon a cage-like frame structure shown generally at II. The frame II is in turn mounted for vertical displacement on a traveling carriage I2, which latter in turn is carried by and horizontally displaceable along a stationary frame structure I3.

The frame structure I3 comprises a pair of uprights I4, I5 rigidly mounted in the floor base as at I6a, I'la, together with upper and lower horizontal members I6 and I1, riveted, welded or otherwise rigidly affixed to the uprights I4, I5. The horizontal and vertical dimensions of the frame structure I3 will be governed by the size of the carpet to be manufactured thereon. As shown more particularly in Figure 4, the frame members I4 to II, are of angular cross section for imparting strength and rigidity, and for mounting thereon a wooden tentering frame I8, having secured thereto a series of upstanding, longitudinally spaced tentering hooks at I9, 20.

As shown more particularly in Figure 4, the base fabric 2| of the carpet is stretched tautly over the tentering frame I8, for the tufting and pile cutting operation, for purposes of which the tufting and pile cutting mechanism In is pressed against the fabric 2| in the manner illustrated in Figure 4 and described more in detail hereinafter.

For effecting the carpet tufting and pile cutting operation, the mechanism It) must travel horizontally for each row to be tufted, and vertically for tufting successive rows. The horizontal travel is effected by means of the traveling carriage I 2, which includes a pair of vertical guide members 22, 23. These guide members are mounted at their upper and lower ends respectively, upon horizontal plates 24, 25, to which the guides are secured by means of lock nut assemblies, as at 26, 21, for rigidly securing the guides to these plates. Secured to the plates 24, are front brackets 28, 29, top and bottom respectively, and a pair of rear brackets 39, 3| and 32, 33, top and bottom respectively. Each of the brackets 28 to 33 inclusive, has mounted in a slot thereof a guide roll, as at 34. These guide rolls for the front and rear brackets respectively, straddle the vertical flanges or rails of the horizontal frame angle members It and II, to permit of horizontal displacement of the carriage I2 with respect to the frame I3. For supporting the weight of the carriage I2, the lower plate 25 has mounted on its underside, additional bracket members 35, 36,

6 which mount additional rolls 31, which ride upon the horizontal flat portion 38, Figure 4 of the lower horizontal frame member II.

For driving the carriage I2 at a preselected feed rate in relation to the operation of the tufting and pile cutting mechanism II], the rack members 39 and 49 are mounted on the vertical faces of the horizontal frame members IS, IT. These rack members are respectively engaged by pinions 4|, 42, which are keyed to the opposite ends respectively of the splined shaft 43. Mounted on the splined shaft 43, on a sleeve 43a slidably keyed as at 43b to the shaft, is a worm gear 44, which meshes with a worm 45, the latter being keyed to a horizontal shaft 46 journaled to bearings 41, 48 mounted on the cage I I. Also slidably keyed to shaft 46 is a friction cylindrical drive member 49 of a friction clutch, which frictionally engages the face of a cooperating friction disc 59, the latter being keyed to a shaft 5| journaled to a bearing 52, mounted upon the plate 53 of the cage I I. Shaft 5| is driven by means of an electrical motor 54, through pulleys 55 and 56, and coupling belt 51, pulley 55 being keyed to the motor shaft 58; while pulley 56 is mounted on a shaft 59 which is in turn mechanically coupled to shaft 5| through the intermediary of universal and telescoping connections 60, 6| and 62 for purposes explained below. In this way by driving the motor 54 in one direction or the reverse, the carriage I2 is horizontally propelled along the frame I3 in either direction as desired. Shaft 59 is a combination drive shaftfor driving the carriage displacing shaft 5|, as .well as a cam shaft for driving the eccentric and cams which actuate the tufting and pile cutting mechanism III, which will now be described.

Referring to Figures 8 to 10 inclusive, shaft 59 is journaled to a bearing 63 mounted upon a supporting plate I9, the latter in turn being mounted as explained hereinafter. A reduced diameter end of shaft 59 opposite to that to' which the coupling 69 is linked, projects outwardly beyond the supporting plate III, as at I I, Figure 8. Keyed to the projecting end II of shaft 59 are a pair of cams I2 and I3, and an eccentric coupling block I4. Cams I2 and I3 are axially spaced by means of an interposed spacer I5 also mounted on shaft II; while cam I2 is spaced from the mounting member III by means of an interposed thrust bearing ring I6.

Mounted upon the supporting member II! is a substantially U-shaped member 11 having a longitudinally extending slot 18d machined in its upper face. The slot carries therein two reciprocating bars I8 and I9. The lower bar I9 has secured to the outer end thereof a spacing block 19a, the upper face of which slidably engages the under face of the slide bar I8. slidably displaceable bars I8 and I9 have secured at their ends adjacent the cams I2, I3, stud members 80, BI which in turn are coupled by pairs of links, such as 82, 83, to similar stud members 84, 85, on which are respectively mounted cam rollers 86, 81. These cam rollers ride respectively on the peripheral faces of the cams I3, I2.

Secured to the opposite ends of the slide bar I8 and to the spacer block I90. respectively, are a pair of flexible stepper and cutter blades 88, 89 which are mounted as shown in slidable contact with each other. These blades are slightly upturned at their projecting ends, as in Figure 8, and are oppositely bevelled at their ends, as shown at 90, 9| in Figure 9, to form therebetween a V-shaped groove, whereby these members cooperate to form a stepper during the tufting operation, and thereafter as a pair of coacting shearing blades for shearing the tuft in two strands after it is formed, .as explained below. The ends 90, 9! of the strip members are maintained in close surface contact by means of a thin metal collar or flattened tube 9m, encasing the same and soldered to one of the strip members 88, 89.

The slide bars I8, T9 are held in the groove 18a by means of a retainer plate 92 which rests on the upper edges of the guide member II, as shown in Figure 10. Also assembled on plate 92 are a pair of laterally spaced support bars 93 and 94. As sembled on the support bars 93 and 94 are guide rail members 95, 96 of substantially angular section, as shown in Figure I0, these guide members projecting inwardly beyond the supports 93, 94. Slidably mounted in the groove formed between the upper faces of the guide rails 95, 55, is the slide bar 91, to the outer end and underside of which is secured by means of screws, as at 98, a needle supporting block 95, to the underside of which a needle I is secured, as by means of screws IOI. Assembled on the guide rails 95, 96 are a pair of longitudinally spaced retainer plates I02, I03. The entire structure shown in Figure is maintained in operative assembly by means of screws, such as I04, I05.

For adjustably regulating the depth of penetration of the needle and stepper blades I00, 88, 89 into the base fabric, a guard ring I65a is provided, having mounting prongs I052) secured thereto which pass through slots of a clamping plate I650, mounted on the slide bar housing as shown and secured thereto by means of clamping screws, as at I05d.

The slide bar 91 has secured to its upper face a stud I06 to which is pivotally connected one end of a connecting rod I0I, the opposite end of which is pivotally connected to an adjustably mounted stud I08. Stud I08 has a square head I09 at its base, which is slidable within a radial slot IIO of the eccentric block I4 for adjusting the extent of eccentric displacement of the end of the connecting rod I01, connected to stud I08. In order to clamp the stud I63 in its adjusted position, a flanged sleeve III is interposed between the block I4 and a washer and nut II2 threaded onto the outer end of stud I08, the sleeve III being of such length as to permit the assembly to be clamped together while allowing free rotation of the connecting rod I01 about the sleeve and stud.

Referring to Figure 9, the cams i2 and T3 have the configurations shown, and for reasons referred to above and explained below. As the shaft 59 is rotated, the slide bars i8, 59 will be displaced outwardly by the cams 72, I3, but will not be retracted thereby. In order to providea retracting means to hold the cam rolls 86, 81 at all times against the peripheral faces of the cams I2, I3, a cam follower assembly shown generally at H4 is provided. This comprises two pairs of depending links H5 and H6, which are respectively pin connected at one end of each pair to the studs 85 and 84, and which are pin connected at their opposite ends to a stud III, the latter being mounted in a substantially U-shaped bracket II8, which bracket is in turn mounted upon the supporting member I0, as by means of bolts II9, Figure 9a. Mounted upon the stud III between each of the pairs of link members H5, H6, are coil springs I and I2I. One end of each of these springs engages a stud I22 mounted in. the housing II8, while the opposite end of the spring engages a stud. as at I23- or I24, secured betweeneach pair. of the link members I I5, II6. Thus. as thecam rolls B6 and 0! are displaced to the left by action of the. cams I2, I3,

the springs I20, I2I are-placed under increased.

compression,.so thatas the cams reach the position permitting displacementto the right of the cam rolls, thearms of the springs. Will expand and causethe camrolls .to follow and at all times ride upon the peripheral surfaces of the cams.

Referring to Figured, it will be observed that tufting and pile cutting'headi I0 must at all times resiliently engage. the. base fabric. 2| during the tufting operation, and for-this reason the tufting head and the motor driving the samemustbe displaceably mountedon the cage II. This; displaceable mounting is shown. in Figures 1 to 7 inclusive. To this end a carriage member shown generally at I50.is provided, which is displaceable along guide rails I5I, I52 which are. so mounted on cage II that thecarriage I50 is. displaceable perpendicular to the surface of the base fabric 2I stretched across the tentering frame as shown in Figure 4. The carriage I50 has roughly the configuration of a rectangular plate having integral with 'each of its four cornersv a bracket, as at I 54, Figure '7. have the form of a slotted T-shaped yoke, as shown, and have rollers mounted in the opposite sides thereof, as at I55, I56 for rotation about vertical axes, and having a further roller mounted as at I5! for rotation about a horizontal axis. The horizontal rollers engage the opposite sides respectively of one of the guide rails I5I, I52, while the vertical rollers engage the lower and upper faces of the guide rails I5I, I52respectively, for displaceably supporting the carriage on the guide rails. Secured to the lower portion of carriage plate I50 is an angle member I58, to the underside of the horizontal fiangeof' which the motor 54 is bolted in the manner clearly shown in Figure 7.

Referring to Figures 8 and 9 in conjunction with Figures 6 and '7, the supporting plate I0 on which the tufting and pile cutting mechanism is mounted, as above explained, is in turn bolted to the sideof the bracket members I54. In this way the motor and tufting mechanism assemblies are displaceable along the guide rails I5I, I52 of the cage member II in a direction perpendicular to the stationary frame I3. By reason of this displacement the motor shaft 58 must be flexibly coupled to shaft 5 I, which drives the travel frame assembly I2. This flexible coupling is effected by means of the above described pulleys and belt 55, 55 and 51, and the universal joint and telescopic couplings 60, 6| and 62.

Referring to Figures 4, 6 and 7, the mechanism by which the tufting head I0 is maintained in resilient contact with the base fabric 2 I, comprises a weight and pulley assembly, consisting of a weighted member I65 secured to a cable I66 which passes over a series of pulleys I61, I68, I69, all mounted on the cage member II, by means of brackets such as I10. After passing over the last pulley I69, the cable I66 is secured to a bracket III mounted on the carriage member I50, whereby the weight, cable and pulley ar rangement tends at all times to resiliently displace the guard ring mm of the tufting head I0 against the base fabric 2|.

In order to elevate the cage mechanism I I for tufting successive rows of the carpet, an elevating mechanism for cage II is provided, compris- These brackets.

ing a pair of threaded rods I15, I16 extending between the upper and lower plates 24, 25, Figure 1, of the travel frame I2, these rods being bolted-to these plates at their opposite ends respectively, by means of lock nut assemblies, such as I11, I18. Threadably engaging the bars I15, I16, are a pair of internally threaded sprocket members I8I, I82, Figures 6 and 7., the hubs I84, I85 of which are interposed between the channel members I19, I88 of the cage II and base plates 53, 53a of the cage. Thus the entire weight of the cage is supported by means of the base plates 53, 53a on the hubs I84, I85 of the sprocket members I8I, I82, which in turn are displaceably supported on the bars I15, I16 by threaded engagement therewith. Passing about the sprockets, is a chain I86 for concurrently rotating the sprockets I8I, I82. Also mounted on hub I84 is a second sprocket I81, about which passes a sprocket chain I88, and extends about a sprocket I89 mounted upon a shaft I99 journaled between channel member HM and a plate I92 carried by the channel member. The shaft I98 has secured thereto a handle member I93, for rotating the shaft I90, and hence with it the chain and sprocket assemblies referred to. Thus rotation of the handle I93 elevates or lowers the cage assembly depending on direction of rotation of the handle. For indicating the degree of eleva tion or lowering of the cage assembly, the opposite end of shaft I90 has keyed thereto a small pinion I94, meshing With-a larger gear I95, having a graduated face as at I96, coacting with a pointer I91 mounted upon the channel I9I.

The cage II itself comprises as shown in Figure 5, upper and lower channel members such as 280, 29I, tied together in spaced apart relation by means of shouldered tie-rods 292, having nuts threaded on to the opposite ends thereof, as at 203, and in addition thereto, plates 294 in the upper portion, and 295 in-the lower portion. Between the channels and the plates are mounted bushings, as at 298 in the upper part and 291 in the lower part, through which the shafts 22, 23 are slidably journaled.

Referring to Figures 2, 4 and 6, the yarn or other filamentary material to be tufted into the base fabric and thereafter pile cut, is fed from spools 2I8 thereof, which are mounted on spindles as at 2, these spindles in turn being rotatably mounted on a table 2I2, which table is in turn mounted on top of the cage II, in the manner shown most clearly in Figure 4. Also mounted on table 2 I2, are a series of eyelet supports 2 I9,

through the eyelets such as 2I4 of which, the

yarn is fed from the spools as at 2 I5, and thence through another eyelet as at H6, and thence as at 2I1 to the needle or needles I98, through additional guide eyelets such as 2I5, 2I9 mounted as shown on the tufting and pile cutting head. Also mounted on this head is a wire mat 229, over which the yarn strands 2 I1 are fed as shown in Figure 6, this wire mat being provided with upstanding wire ends or loops which are slanted in the direction of feed, thus to grip the yarn and prevent it from slipping back in the direction opposite to the direction of feed.

Referring now to Figures 11 to 20 inclusive, the operation of the tufting and pile cutting mechanism I9, is as follows. As the cam and eccentric bearing shaft 59 rotates, driven by a motor 54, the needle will first be advanced to the position shown in Figure 19, to penetrate the base fabric 2|, carrying with it the yarn 2I1, to form a tufted loop of the yarn as at 22I. Figure 20 shows the position of the eccentric and cam assembly at the instant of maximum pene tration of the needle, at which time the stepper and cutter blades 88, 89, will also be in the position shown in Figure 19. It will be observed that at this instant the cam rolls 89, 81 of the stepper bars 18, 19, are traversing the arcuate portion 222 of the cams 12, 13, which are of constant and equal radius. In consequence, as the shaft continues to rotate the stepper and cutter blades 88, 89, will remain in the position shown in Figure 19, until the shaft 59 has rotated to the position shown in Figure 12. During this interval-of rotation, however, the needle I90 will be withdrawn to the position of Figure 11, by the reciprocating motion of the eccentric I91. In the Figure 11 position the needle has been withdrawn substantially to its maximum extent so that it has completely cleared the base fabric 2 I meantime, however, the stepper blades 88, 89, have remained stationary, to hold th tufting loop 22I, in the V notch formed between the oppositely bevelled ends 98, 9| thereof, in the manner shown in Figure 13. As the shaft 59 now rotates further to the position shown in Figure 15, the cam roll 86 mounted on stepper bar 18, will continue to ride upon the surface portion 223 of constant radius of the cam 13, while the cam roll 81 mounted on stepper bar 19, will ride upon the surface-portion 224 of cam roll 12, which is of greater radius than the portion 223 of cam roll 13. In consequence the stepper bars 18, 19 will be longitudinally displaced with respect to each other, thereby correspondingly displacing the stepper and cutter blades 88, 89 in the manner shown in Figures 14 and 16, thus to shear the end 225 of the tufted loop, into two strands in the manner shown at 22 8, 221 of Figure 1%. As the shaft 59 continues to rotate to the position shown in Figure 18, the cam rolls 85, 81 will pass upon the relatively fiat portions 228 of the cam rolls, which portion is of the same configuration for each cam, in consequence of which the stepper bars 18, 19 will be retracted by the resilient action of the springs I20, I2I, Figures 9 and 911., thus concurrently withdrawing the stepper blades 88, 89, from the base fabric 2I, as shown in Figure 11. Meantime the eccentric I91 is again advancing the needle I to the next stitch through the base fabric to form the succeeding tufted loop 22I of Figure 1'1. When the shaft has again rotated to the position of Figure 20, above discussed, the needlewill have fully penetrated the base. fabric 2I to completely form the next succeeding tufted loop 22I, whereupon the above described cycle of operations will be repeated.

I claim:

1. A tufting and pile cutting mechanism for forming in a base fabric a cut pile filamentary material, said mechanism comprising: a needle and a combined stepper and pile cutting device, the latter consisting of a pair of resilient blades having oppositely bevelled shearing ends; means mounting said needle and blades in superimposed relation for longitudinal displacements relative to each other along substantially parallel paths, and said blades in sliding engagement with each other with their bevelled shearing ends superimposed in oppositely biased relation, said means including a frame and a series of three thrust bars slidably mounted therein, together with means mounting said needle on a first said thrust bar and said blades on the second and third thrust bars respectively; a drive shaft journaled to said frame; means including said drive shaft and an eccentric thereon linked to said needle thrust bar for reciprocating the same; and cam means on said drive shaft for concurrently reciprocating said second and third thrust bars in intermittent, lagging timed relation to said needle thrust bar for forming in said base fabric a tuft of said filamentary material, and for thereafter longitudinally displacing one said thrust bar relative to the other during a portion of each cycle of reciprocation, for causing said blades to sever said tuft into an upstanding strand of said filamentary material.

2. A tufting and pile cutting mechanism for forming in a base fabric a cut pile of filamentary material, said mechanism comprising: a needle and a combined stepper and pile-cutting device, the latter consisting of a pair of resilient blades having oppositely bevelled shearing ends; means mounting said needle and blades in superimposed relation for longitudinal displacements relative to each other along substantially parallel paths, and said blades in sliding engagement with each other with their bevelled shearing ends superimposed in oppositely biased relation, said'means including a frame and a series of three thrust bars slidably mounted therin, together with means mounting said needle on a first said thrust bar and said blades on the second and third thrust bars respectively; a drive shaft journaled to said frame; means including said drive shaft and an eccentric thereon linked to said needle thrust bar for reciprocating the same; and cam means on said drive shaft for concurrently reciprocating said second and third thrust bars in intermittent, lagging timed relation to said needle thrust bar for forming in said base fabric a tuft of said filamentary material, and for thereafter longitudinally displacing one said thrust bar relative to the other during a portion of each cycle of reciprocation, for causing said blades to sever said tuft into an upstanding strand of said filamentary material, said cam means comprising a pair of cams mounted to reciprocate said second and third thrust bars respectively, each said cam including a cam face portion of convex curvature subtending a relatively fiat cam face portion, the convexly curved cam face portion including a portion of constant radius, the same for each cam, and one said cam including a convex portion of increased radius relative to the other.

3. A tufting and pile cutting mechanism for forming in a base fabric a cut pile of filamentary material, said mechanism comprising: a needle and a combined stepper and pile cutting device, the latter consisting of a pair of resilient blades having oppositely bevelled shearing ends; means mounting said needle and blades in superimposed relation for longitudinal displacements relative to each other along substantially parallel paths, and said blades in sliding engagement with each other with their belevelled shearing ends superimposed in oppositely biased relation, said means including a frame and a series of three thrust bars slidably mounted therein, together with means mounting said needle on a first said thrust bar and said blades on the second and third thrust bars respectively; a drive shaft journaled to said frame; means including said drive shaft and an eccentric thereon linked to said needle thrust bar for reciprocating the same; and cam means on said drive shaft for concurrently reciprocating said second and third thrust bars in intermittent, lagging timed relation to said needle thrust bar for forming in said base fabric a tuft of said filamentary material, and for thereafter longitudinally displacing one said thrust bar relative to the other during a portion of each cycle of reciprocation, for causing said blades to sever said tuft into an upstanding strand of said filamentary material, said cam means comprising a pair of cams mounted to reciprocate said second and third thrust bars respectively, each said cam including a cam face portion of convex curvature subtending a relatively fiat cam face portion, the convexly curved cam face portion including a portion of constant radius, the same for each cam, and one said cam including a convex portion of increased radius relative to the other; a cam roll mounted on each thrust bar for engaging the cam face of the cam individual thereto; and means maintaining said cam rolls in resilient'engagement with said cam faces.

RICHARD C. KLlNE.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,757,795 Dahlen May 6, 1930 1,976,709 Doubler Oct. 16, 1934 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 246,948 Great Britain Feb. 1'1, 1926 

